Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 432 › Conversation 432-030

Nixon & Haig on Special Prosecutor and Watergate scandal

Wednesday, May 9, 1973 · 12:03 PM–12:31 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haig, Alexander M., Jr.Conversation432-030 on Tape 432StartWednesday, May 9, 1973 at 12:03 PMEndWednesday, May 9, 1973 at 12:31 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 432-030 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Alexander Haig discussed the selection of a special prosecutor to address the ongoing investigation into the Watergate scandal. The two evaluated the potential appointment of former California Governor Edmund G. “Pat” Brown, weighing his Democratic background, name recognition, and experience as a district attorney. Nixon aimed to ensure the investigation would be conducted fairly without unduly harming individuals involved, ultimately looking to influence Elliot Richardson's final selection.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 2 minutes of this recording (about 76% of it) is represented by only a few words. Listen to the audio rather than relying on the text below; a corrected transcript is queued.

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Names and numbers are often wrong; speakers are not identified. Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Now, I'm going to go ahead and try to find people to go.
I'm going to go ahead and find people to go.
I mean, it's a big name.
It's got a big population.
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
We want the truth, but we don't want to kill a man.
I'm sorry.

NARA Description

On May 9, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 12:03 pm and 12:31 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 432-030 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 432-30

Date: May 9, 1973
Time: Unknown between 12:03 pm and 12:31 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with Alexander M. Haig, Jr.

       White House special prosecutor
             -Appointment
                    -Edmund G. (“Pat”) Brown
                            -Background
                                    -Governor, Attorney-General
                                            -California
                                    -Democrat
                                            -Regard for Presidency [?]
                            -Advantages
                                    -Name recognition
                                    -Former district attorney
                                            -Effect on committee
                                    -Sensitivity to national interests
                            -Background
                                    -Attorney general
                                    -Governor
                                            -President’s Democratic opponent, 1962
                    -Elliot L. Richardson’s choice
                            -Harvard University
                            -Effect on John N. Mitchell
                    -Brown
                            -President’s recommendation
                                    -Richardson
                                               -34-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Also recorded on May 9, 1973

  • 432-027 12:03 PM · 17 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 12:03 pm and 12:22 pm.
  • 432-028 12:03 PM · 9 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 12:03 pm and 12:22 pm.
  • 432-029 12:03 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 12:03 pm and 12:31 pm.
  • 045-167 12:05 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 12:05 pm and 12:31 pm.
  • 045-168 12:31 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 12:31 pm to 12:34 pm.
  • 432-031 12:31 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 12:31 pm to 12:34 pm.
  • 432-032 12:31 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 12:31 pm and 2:24 pm.
  • 432-033 12:31 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 12:31 pm and 2:24 pm.

All 62 conversations from May 9, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 432-030, May 9, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/432-030 (accessed October 5, 2026).